Typographical slug casting machine



Sept. 9, 1941. R. M. OCONNOR 2,255,590

TYPOGRAPHICAL SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed March 18,

2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY P 1941- R. M'. OCONNOR 2,255,590

TYPOGRAPHICAL SLUG C ASTING MACHINE Filed March 18, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ROBERT M. O'CONNOR ATTORN EY Patented Sept. 9, 1941 UNITED STA ES Pm trio]:

This invention relates to improvements in and for typographical slug casting machines of the general organization disclosed in Letters Patent No. 436,532 and it relates more specifically to devices which are operative automatically to give to the machine operator a direct visual indication of the point-size (body thickness) and the em-length of the slug that will be produced in the casting slot of I each of the several molds (either four or six) ordinarily provided for selective use on the modern commercial machines of this class. V

In Letters Patent No. 1,868,363 granted to me on July 19, 1932 there is disclosed mechanism which is operative automatically to select and to retain in position for use a slug ejector blade the width of which is suited properly to the cmlength of the casting slot in any selected one of the group of molds mounted on the usual rotary mold disk. This mechanism is operated by the usual mold selecting pinion and is connected to and automatically actuates the Well known ejector blades selecting handle and the graduated scale associated therewith and formerly operated by hand. Accordingly, the markings on this scale which primarily show ejector blade sizes and are visible to the operator (through an aperature in the back wall of the so-called inter mediate channel) are, by virtue of the devices of my aforesaid patent, indicative also of the em-length of the casting slot in any selected mold and therefore of the em-length of the slug that will be cast in such mold.

An object of the present invention is to provide means which in response to manual operation of the usual mold selecting pinion is adapted to register within direct vision of the operator when seated at the machine not only the emlength but also the point-size (body thickness) of the slug that will be produced in the casting cavity or slot of any mold that may be selected for use. The desirability and advantages of this arrangement will be apparent, it being common knowledge that for one or more causes such as darkness, shadows, obstructions or obliteration it requires time, patience and considerable maneuvering on the part of the operator to read with any degree of certainty either the emlength or the point-siz markings which are usually stamped on the molds or parts thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide, preferably at a common point on the machine and remote from the molds, a visible indication of both of the slug size controlling dimensions of the casting slot in any selected one of a group of molds which at the time happens to. be mounted on the mold disk, and to provide for adjusting the respective indicators simultaneously and automatically upon arrival in operative position of any one of such molds in response to turning the usual mold selecting pinion.

A still further object is to provide means for Controlling independently the actual settings of eachof the indicators so that when adjusted, their readings may conform to any pre-arranged combination of point-sizes and "em-lengths that may exist in the several molds available for selective use on, the mold disk.

The specific embodiment of the invention as hereinshown and described is merely by way of example and various other forms, arrangements and combinations of the parts and of their mode of operationmay be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is to be understood, therefore, that the inventionvis not limited except insofar as specified in the claims.

The manner in which the various objects of the invention are attained will be apparent and best understood from the description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: I

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of portions of a typographical slug casting machine having applied thereto the indicators and automatic adjusting means therefor according to the invention. p

Fig. 2 is an elevation, viewed from the rear in Fig. 1, of the dial and associated slide which controls the settings of the point-size indicator of the invention. 7

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View on an enlarged scale of a portion of the dial shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the operating connections shown in Fig. 1 between the slug-size indicators and the operating slides therefor.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the mechanism as viewed from the left side in Fig. 1 and shows also a fragment of the usual vise located in front of the mold disk.

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 5 but shows a portion of the mechanism in section taken on the line 66 in Fig. 1.

. Referring to the drawings in which like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout, the numeral i designates a portion of the usual rigid base of the machine on which. is erected a rigid arm 2 the forward end of which accommodates the locking stud 3 which gaged 'relation with the driving shaft I.

- secures the usual vise frame 4 in place in front of the mold disk 5. r v

.The manner in which the mold disk is supported for fore and aft reciprocation and for quarterand three-quarter turns by appropriate gear segments on the main cam shaft of the machine is too Well known to require detailed explanation or illustration, especially since such operations have no direct bearing on the present invention. Sufiice it to say that the mold disk is driven by power through the pinion 6 at the forward end of the driving shaft 1, the disk being rotated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1,

first through a quarter turn to bring a selected mold into casting position (horizontal position at the top in Fig. 1), and then through a threequarter turn to bring such mold to slug ejecting position (vertical position at the right in Fig. 1). I

The disk is also rotatable manually through the agency of the pinion 6 (in 4 tol ratio with the teeth on the periphery of the disk 5) which I operative position of the active mold at the start of each cycle of operation of the machine.

Merely byway of example the disk 5, as shown f in Fig. 1, is provided with four molds designated *9, I I], I land I2having the different sizes of casting cavities 9 Id H and I2 respectively. Cavity 9 is for casting 12-point slu-gs of 30-em 1 length; cavity Ill for 8-point slugs of 24-em length; cavity Il for 24-point slugs of 18-em 1 length; and cavity IZ for 48-point slugs of 12-em f length.

As in my Patent No. 1,868,363 previously re-' 1 ferred to, the em-length of the casting cavity in any selected one of these molds may be observed by the operator by reading the particular scale marking (on the vertically slidable ejector blade indicator rod I3) that appears in the aperture I4 in the back wall of the fixed intermediate channel member I5 of the machine. Thus, as

, shown in Fig. 1, the mold 9 having the 30-em j casting cavity 9 is inoperative position and the 1 30-em scale marking on rod I3 appears in aperture I4.' The mechanism which operates the in dicator rod I3 is substantially the same as that disclosed in-the aforementioned patent to which reference may be had if desired. As herein shown, it comprises the rotatable ejector blade selector disk I6 provided with asmany sets or 1 groups of radially spaced perforations I! as there i 1 are molds on the mold disk 5. In the particular perforation in each set thereof that bears a 1 marking which agrees with the em-length of the i casting cavity in the corresponding mold there is inserted a stud I8 provided with a roller I9. and adapted, upon rotation of the disk I6, to. engage and depress a vertically movable slide 20 which is normally urged upward by a spring 2I hooked to an extension 2I at the bottom of the slide 20 and to a hook 2| in a fixed bracket. The

lower end of slide 26 is connected by a link 22 i to one end of a lever 23 pivoted as at 24- on the base I, the other end of this lever being connected by means of an adjustable ball joint link 25 to rocker arm 26 which is pivoted on a suitable part of the machine frame and is connected at its free end to the lower end of the indicator rod I3.

As best shown in Fig. 6, the selector disk It is keyed to a horizontal fore and aft shaft 21 adapted to rotate in a bearing 28 formed in a 'web portion of the vertical supporting bracket 25 which is rigidly secured to the base I. For rotating the disk I6 there are provided two gear wheels 30 and iii pinned respectively to the inner and outer ends of a shaft 32 rotatably supported in a housing 33 which is suitably secured to the upper end of the supporting bracket 29. Gear 36 is in constant mesh with the toothed periphery of the selector disk I6 and gear SI is so disposed as to mesh with the teeth on the mold disk turning pinion 6 only when the latter is pulled forward as it is for rotating the mold disk 5 by hand.

It will'now be evident that when the pinion 6 is turned by hand to'select a mold on the mold disk 5 the selector disk I6 will also be rotated through the agency of the gears 36 and SI. And since the gear ratio of pinion 6 to the mold disk 5 and of gear 30 to the selection disk I6 are in both cases 4 to 1, each full turn of pinion 6 will result in turning the molds-and the perforation groups through ninety degrees. Viewed in another way, for each different mold that is turned by pinion 6 to the normal vertical position, at the right in Fig. 1, there will arrive in contact with the slide 20 a roller stud I 8 belonging to one of the perforation groups I7. According to the casting slot length dictated or defined by the location of the stud IS in that particular group the corresponding marking on the rod I3 will appear in the aperture I4 where the operator can see it at a glance and thus be aware of the slug that will be cast. A spring pressed detent 34 registers'in a depression 35 in the hub of gear 3| whereby to retain the gears 30 and 3| and the disk I6 in set position when the pinion 6 is out of mesh with gear 3| as it is except when selecting for use a different one of the molds.

According to the present invention there is provided, in addition to the em-length indicator and its operating and position controlling mechanism just described, a point-size indicator which the operator may read at a glance through an aperture immediately adjacent to the emlength aperture I4 and thus without the slightest difficulty or maneuvering observe both of the slug size controlling dimensions of the casting slot in any mold that is turned into operating position. To this end' there is provided a point selector dial 36 keyed, as best shown in Fig. 6-, to the same shaft 21 that carries the selector disk I6 and having in its rear face as many sets or groups of radially spaced perforations 21, see Fig. 2, as there are molds on the mold disk 5. In the particular perforation in each set thereof that bears a marking which agrees with the point size of the casting cavity in the corresponding mold there is inserted a stud 38 provided with a roller 39 and adapted, upon rotation of the dial 36 to depress a vertically movable slide 40 whichis normally urged upward by a spring 4| hooked to anextension Me at the bottom of the slide I0 and to a hook M in the fixed bracket 29. The lower end of slide 46 is connected by a link 43 to one endof a lever 64 pivoted at 24 on the base I, the other end of this lever being connected by means of an adjustable ball joint link 45 to a rock arm. 46 which is pivoted adjacent to the rock arm 26 on a suitable fixed part of the machine frame and is connected at its free end to the lower end of the point-size indicator rod 41. The point-size scale markings on rod 41 are visible to the operator through the aperture 51 which will be seento he immediately adjacent to the aperture i4.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 6 it Will be seen that the dial 35 is devoid of teeth on its periphery but that since this dial iskeyed to shaft 21 carrying the 'disk i6 both the dial and the disk will be rotated simultaneously through equal arcs whenever the mold selecting pinion 8 and gears it and 3! are turned, thus simultaneously effecting adjustment of the indicators they control. Further, upon arrival of anymold in operative position through turning of the pinion 6 the slides 29 and lfil will automatically adjust the positions of the respective indicator rods 13 and 41 in accordance with the em-length and point-size of the casting cavity in such mold as dictated or defined by the locations respectively of the roller studs l8 and 38 in their corresponding perforation groups. Both of the slug-size dimensions of the casting slot in a selected mold are then readable directly and with certainty merely by glancing at the markings which appear in the apertures 427 and Hi. Moreover, the indicators will be seen to be under independent control of the sets of roller studs which dictate their respective settings. Thus, should successive molds turned into operative position have a casting cavity of the same em-length but of difierent height (point size), no change will occur in the setting of the em-length indicator l3 but the point-size indicator will be free to alter its setting as dictated by the location of the corresponding roller stud 38. On the other hand, should successive molds brought into operative position have casting cavities of equal point-size but of different length, then the em-length indicator will be free to alter its setting according to the location of roller studs l8 while the pointsize indicator remains unchanged. And again, should there be a difference in both the emlength and point-size of the casting cavity in successive molds brought into use, then both indicators will be free to alter their settings in the same or in opposite directions according to the diiferently located studs.

It will be obvious, of course, that one or more of the molds on the disk may be removed and molds having different size casting cavities substituted therefor. In such instances the roller studs l8 and 33, one belonging to each perforation group in the disk 16 and dial 36 respectively, will be changed manually as to their locations so as to agree with the em-length and pointsize of the casting cavity in the corresponding substituted molds. The perforations in the disk It and the dial 36 bear stamped em-length and point-size markings to enable the operator properly to locate the roller studs which control the settings of the respective indicators. The point-size markings on the dial 36 are shown in Fig. 3.

As clearly shown in Fig. 5, the disk [6 and the dial 36 are partially covered by a housing 48 which for convenience and as shown may be formed integral with the supporting bracket 29. And as best shown in Fig. 6, the slides 20 and 40 are guided in suitable recesses formed in the bracket 29 in which recesses they are slidably retained by suitable plates 49 and 50 respectively. On the outer side of the housing 48, see Fig- 5, there is provided a suitableinscription and arrows for quick identification of the em-length and point-size controls.

Having described my invention, what Iclaim is:

1. In a typographical slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of molds differing as to the em-length and point-size dimensions of their'casting slots, the combination of mold selecting means operative upon manual manipulation to bring one or another of such molds into position for use, pre-settable casting slot dimension defining means cooperative with and actuated by said selecting means when manipulated, and means cooperative with said dimension defining means and arranged to register at a common point on the machine remote from the molds markings on said registering means corresponding to the em-length and the pointslze dimensions of the casting slot in the selected mold.

2. In a typographical slug casting machine according to claim 1, wherein the pro-settable casting slot dimension defining means comprises two distinct members operatively connected together for simultaneous cooperation with the mold selecting means, and wherein each of said members is adapted independently to effect the register of one only of the'dimensions of the castin cavity in the selected mold.

3. ma typographical slug casting machine according to claim 1, wherein the pre-settable casting slot dimension defining means comprises two distinct members similar in form and operatively connected together, and wherein said members each are provided with elements capable of variable location at pro-arranged spaced intervals thereon and indictative according to their location at each spaced interval on the respective members of the em-length and of the point-size dimension of the casting cavity in a different one of the molds.

4. In a typographical slug casting machine having a rotary mold disk equipped with a plurality of molds differing as to the em-length and point-size dimensions of the casting slots therein, the combination of a rotatable mold selecting pinion, a member operatively associated therewith and adapted upon each full turn of the pinion to present in active position one of a series of elements thereon indicative of the em-length of the casting slot in one of the molds, a second member operatively associated with the first mentioned member and with the mold selecting pinion and adapted upon each full turn of said pinion to present in active position one of a series of elements thereon indicative of the point-size of the casting slot in the corresponding mold, and a pair of rods bearing respectively a series of em-length and point-size markings readable at a common point on the machine remote from the molds and cooperative each with such of the aforesaid elements as are presented in active position.

5. In a typographical slug casting machine having a rotary mold disk equipped with a plurality of molds differing as to the em-length and point-size dimensions of the casting slots therein, the combination of a rotatable mold selecting pinion operable upon manual manipulation to turn the disk to bring any desired one of the molds into operative position, rotatable members operatively associated with' the selecting pinion and provided respectively with manually .and variably settable em-length and point-size defining'elements, one on each member for each ofgthe; molds on thelmold disk, separate em-length and point-size indicators readable at a common point on the machine and adapted for adjustment in response to the em-length and point-size defining elements on said rotatable members, and connections operative toreffect changes in thesetting of each of said indicators independently in accordance with the settings respectively of the em-length and point-size defining elements corresponding to a selected mold. V V

6. In a typographical: slug casing machine equipped with a plurality of molds differing as to thejslug size, controlling dimensions of the cast-' ing slots therein, the combination of mold selecting means, independently adjustable dimension indicators adapted to register at a common point on the machine remote from the molds two difierent dimensions of the casting slot in any selected mold, and connections cooperative with and actuated by the mold selecting means to effect automatically and simultaneously the adjustment of said dimension indicators.

7. In a typographical slug casting machine having a rotary mold disk equipped with a plurality of molds each capable of variations as to two slug size controlling dimensions of its casting slot, the combination of a rotatable pinion operable upon manual manipulation to turn the mold disk to select any desired one of the molds for use, a rotatable member provided with. a plurality.of manually settableelements, two for each mold, and definitive each according to its setting of one of the slug size controlling dimensions ofthe casting slot in one of the molds, said rotatable member being adapted for actu ation-by the aforesaid pinion, and two devices each bearing a series of markings covering a range of sizes relative to one of the two slug 7 size controlling dimensions of the casting slot in a mold, said devices being adapted for response to the dimension defining elements on said rotatable member whereby to indicate both of the dimensionsof the casting slot in the selected mold.

8. In a typographical slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of molds each capable of variation as to two slug size controlling dimensions of its castingslot, the combination of mold selecting means operative upon manual manipulation to position a desired mold for use, separate scales adjustable to different positions and bearing markings indicative on the respective scales of a difierent one of the casting slot dimensions relative to any mold, and a plurality of dimension detecting devices pre-settable manually to difierent positions corresponding respectively to eachof the casting slot dimensions in each of the several molds, said latter devices being cooperative with the mold selecting means and operative upon manual manipulation thereof to control the adjustment of the separate scales.

ROBERT M. OCONNOR. V 

